Houston Land Bank

What Houston Land Bank does

Houston Land Bank is a Houston-based nonprofit land bank that acquires vacant, abandoned, and damaged properties and converts them into affordable housing and community assets for income-eligible households. Originally incorporated in 1999 as the Land Assemblage Redevelopment Authority and reorganized under Texas SB 1679 land bank authority in 2021, the organization operates two primary homeownership programs: the Traditional Homebuyer Program, which sells discounted lots to approved builders for construction of homes sold to buyers at up to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) at prices ranging from $190,000 to $279,900, and the New Home Development Program (NHDP), a partnership with the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department delivering newly built homes to 80% AMI buyers with up to $50,000 in down payment assistance. Supporting programs include a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) track for nonprofit-built homes, a Brownfields Program for environmental assessment and remediation of contaminated sites, an Heirship Program for resolving fragmented property titles, and the Finding Home Initiative launched in December 2024 to build over 100 disaster-resilient affordable homes across eight underserved Houston neighborhoods.

The organization operates without proprietary technology or AI/ML systems, relying instead on process expertise in title resolution (117 issues identified, 59 cleared, 149 legal service projects handled), brownfields remediation (3+ acres cleaned, $5.6M cumulative EPA grants), and curated builder-network management (31 approved builders and developers including MH Builder-Houston, SXG Capital Group, HAUCDC, and Burghli Homes). Revenue is generated through property sales, government grants (notably a $5M EPA grant in 2024 and $600K in 2021), corporate sponsorships structured in four tiers from $5,000 to $50,000 annually, tax-deductible donations through the HLB Fund 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, and professional consulting services in development, feasibility studies, environmental review, and master planning. Pricing is per-unit and varies by program and buyer AMI band.

HLB runs a lean team of seven staff members under CEO & President Christa Stoneham (appointed January 2022) and a 13-member board chaired by Matt Zeis, with board appointments distributed across the Mayor of Houston, Houston City Council, Harris County Commissioners Court, and the Houston Independent School District. The organization is exclusively Houston-focused (no geographic expansion), serves as a national land-banking model (having hosted the Center for Community Progress' 2019 VAD Academy for ~120 attendees from 19 states), and has helped more than 300 Houstonians purchase affordable homes since 2019, with cumulative property acquisitions spanning 4.56 acres plus a separate 6.8-acre, three-tract development representing $7.3M in planned investment.

Name

Houston Land Bank

Legal name

Houston Land Bank

Website

https://houstonlandbank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Houston Land Bank is a Houston-based nonprofit that converts vacant and abandoned properties into affordable housing for income-eligible buyers at 80%–120% of AMI. It partners with approved builders, lenders, and the City of Houston to deliver discounted lots and homes under Texas SB 1679 authority.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Banking and Affordable Housing

NAICS

Land Subdivision (2372), Other Activities Related to Real Estate (531390)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Land & Development Site Brokerage (BPAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reclamation (Cleanup for Reuse, Risk-Based Closure) (EUAIALAI), Brownfield Redevelopment Due Diligence & Grant Support (EUAHAEAD), Transitional/Development Land Brokerage (Entitled, In-Path-of-Growth) (BPAJADAJ)

Keywords

• Land banking services
• Affordable housing development
• Brownfields redevelopment
• Community development programs
• Property disposition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Sales: Sale of vacant land to approved builders at discounted prices, and sale of completed affordable homes to income-eligible buyers.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: The HLB Fund accepts tax-deductible donations and grants. Sponsorship program with four tiers: City Builder ($5,000), City Partner ($10,000), City Advocate ($25,000), Visionary Leader ($50,000).
3. Government Grants: Receives grants from government agencies including $5 million EPA grant for brownfields cleanup, $600,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant, and support from City of Houston.
4. Professional Services: Offers consulting services in development, construction, market feasibility studies, environmental review, and master planning for governmental entities and developers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Houston Land Bank is a nonprofit land bank that acquires vacant, abandoned, and damaged properties and transforms them into affordable homes and community assets. It sells discounted lots to approved builders, partners with the City of Houston to construct homes for income-eligible buyers, manages brownfields assessment and remediation, and offers professional consulting in development, environmental review, and master planning.

Product overview

Houston Land Bank is a nonprofit organization operating as a land bank that transforms vacant and underutilized properties into affordable homes and community assets. The organization offers a portfolio of housing programs centered around two primary homeownership programs: the Traditional Homebuyer Program (selling lots to approved builders for homes sold to 120% AMI buyers) and the New Home Development Program/NHDP (partnering with City of Houston to build homes for 80% AMI buyers). Supporting programs include the CHDO program for nonprofit-built homes, the Brownfields Program for environmental assessment and remediation, the Finding Home Initiative for resilient housing development, the Land Banking Program for property acquisition and stewardship, and the Heirship Program for property title resolution. Additional services include professional development consulting (market studies, environmental review, master planning) and asset management (property disposition, land maintenance). The organization also operates the HLB Fund as a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor with corporate sponsorship tiers. Since 2019, HLB has helped more than 300 Houstonians purchase quality, affordable homes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Homebuyer Program HLB acquires and repurposes vacant properties to create quality housing for low- and moderate-income families. HLB sells lots to approved builders at discounted prices, who construct homes for sale to income-eligible buyers at 120% AMI.
• New Home Development Program (NHDP) HLB partners with the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department to construct and sell newly built homes to qualified homebuyers at 80% AMI. HLB reserves lots, the City of Houston reimburses land costs, and COH-funded builders construct the homes.
• Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Program HLB partners with the City of Houston to allow nonprofit CHDOs to construct homes on properties. HLB designates lots, COH funds construction and land subsidy with federal dollars, and CHDOs steward the home sales.
• HLB Brownfields Program An essential resource for revitalizing neglected land into safe, usable spaces through free assessments and planning support for brownfields redevelopment projects, including site assessments, community engagement, and special projects.
• Finding Home Initiative A multi-month project in partnership with Houston Community Land Trust, Fannie Mae, and CenterPoint Energy Foundation to create over 100 affordable and resilient homes in underserved Houston neighborhoods including Acres Homes, Independence Heights, Near Northside, Fifth Ward, Third Ward, Settegast, Magnolia Park, and Sunnyside.
• Land Banking Program Strategic acquisition, disposition, and stewardship of vacant, abandoned, and damaged properties into productive use to catalyze transformative community and economic development for the City of Houston.
• Heirship Program Program focused on heirship resolution to address property ownership challenges and help transfer property to rightful heirs.
• Professional Services Expert guidance in various areas related to the development and construction process including community engagement, market and feasibility studies, land assemblage, proforma analysis, environmental review, and master planning.
• Asset Management Services Property management, maintenance, and redevelopment services including master developer services, home and lot disposition, land maintenance, and daily operations and stewardship.
• HLB Fund Sponsorship Program A 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor program offering sponsorship tiers: City Builder ($5,000), City Partner ($10,000), City Advocate ($25,000), and Visionary Leader ($50,000), with benefits including event recognition, social media acknowledgment, and exclusive briefings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ families purchased affordable homes since 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Houston Community Land Trust (HCLT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024Partnership for the Finding Home Initiative to create over 100 affordable, resilient homes in underserved Houston neighborhoods. Combines land bank and community land trust models for permanent affordability.
• Auburn University Rural StudiosupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024Partner in Finding Home Initiative providing expertise in sustainable design and disaster-resilient construction.
• Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024Partner providing Fortified Home disaster-resilient construction standards for Finding Home Initiative homes.
• Smart Home AmericasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024Partner in Finding Home Initiative supporting disaster-resilient construction and affordable housing development.
• Urban HarvestsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2021Partner with HLB for Sunnyside community garden improvements funded by AARP Community Challenge Grant.
• Avenue Community Development Corp.supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2021Coalition partner in $600,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant for vacant and underutilized property transformation.
• City of HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner providing funding, lot reservations, and program support through Housing and Community Development Department. Partnership for NHDP, CHDO programs, and brownfields redevelopment.
• AdaaptasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental consulting firm with 17+ years experience in brownfields redevelopment, providing expertise for HLB's environmental risk webinars and projects.
• BCLP (Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm advising HLB on environmental compliance, regulatory risk, and redevelopment matters through webinar participation.
• MH Builder-Houston LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved builder constructing affordable homes through HLB's Traditional Homebuyer Program. Multiple properties sold including homes on Tennessee Street.
• HAUCDCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved builder that sold property at 938 Ellington St through HLB's Traditional Homebuyer Program.
• Burghli HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved builder that sold property at 7916 Tate St through HLB's Traditional Homebuyer Program.
• SXG Capital Group LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBuilder completed dozens of homes under HLB programs in Acres Home, Trinity Garden and Settagast areas, all sold to first-time buyers.
• Fifth Ward CRCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development corporation partner supporting neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• Habitat for Humanity HoustonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit housing builder partner supporting affordable homeownership in Houston communities.
• MHL PropertiessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBuilder partner in HLB's procured builder network for affordable home construction.
• U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural AffairssupportingOthersProgram hosting international fellows for community development knowledge exchange and capacity building. Three fellows engaged.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Grounded Solutions Network: Grounded Solutions Network is the national membership organization supporting community land trusts and shared equity homeownership models - the same architecture Houston Community Land Trust uses in partnership with HLB on Finding Home.
• Center for Community Progress: Center for Community Progress is the national nonprofit that supports land bank creation and operation across the U.S., and HLB hosted its 2019 VAD Academy. Operates as the ecosystem convener rather than a direct land bank competitor.

Direct peers

• Genesee County Land Bank: Genesee County Land Bank in Flint, Michigan is a pioneering county land bank focused on transforming vacant, abandoned, and tax-foreclosed properties into community assets. HLB has explicitly referenced national land bank models in its program design.
• Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation: Cuyahoga Land Bank in Cleveland is one of the largest U.S. county land banks, focused on returning blighted and vacant properties to productive use. Shares HLB's core model of acquisition, demolition, and disposition for affordable housing development.
• Detroit Land Bank Authority: Detroit Land Bank Authority is a nationally recognized municipal land bank that acquires, manages, and disposes of vacant and abandoned properties for neighborhood revitalization. Operates a directly comparable model to Houston Land Bank in a different metro market.
• Philadelphia Land Bank: Philadelphia Land Bank is a city-level land bank created under Pennsylvania's land bank statute to consolidate vacant property inventory for affordable housing and community development. Operates a directly comparable mission and acquisition-to-disposition model.
• Houston Community Land Trust: Houston Community Land Trust is HLB's direct partner on the Finding Home Initiative, providing the 99-year ground lease model for permanent affordability. Operates the same Houston market with a complementary community land trust approach.
• Fulton County Land Bank Authority: Fulton County Land Bank Authority in metropolitan Atlanta acquires tax-foreclosed and abandoned properties for affordable housing and community redevelopment. Operates a similar municipal land bank model in a comparable Sun Belt metro.

Emerging players

• Avenue Community Development Corp. Avenue CDC is a Houston-based community development corporation that partnered with HLB on the $600K EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant coalition. Operates adjacent affordable housing and community development activities in the same neighborhoods.
• Habitat for Humanity Houston: Habitat for Humanity Houston is a listed HLB partner building affordable homes in the same Houston market. Overlaps in mission (affordable homeownership for low-income buyers) but operates a volunteer-based construction model rather than land banking.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/htxlandbank
• Facebookfacebook.com/HTXlandbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/houlandbank
• Instagraminstagram.com/htxlandbank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Houston Land Bank